Monday, February 17, 2014

Much like plotters and pantsers (and the various degrees of people who fall in between those two), I believe there are two main types of people when it comes to writing: those who dream up vivid characters and then construct plot around them, and those who have fantastic plots in mind and must create characters to play into the story. (Or, as always, those who are a shade of grey and are both.)

For me, I'm a plot person. I like the idea of an interesting story, and those are the things that first grab me when I'm brainstorming my next project. So take DIVERGENT, for instance, a world where people are split into factions based on different ideals. This idea has no specific characters, but it's got the bones of conflict. This is pretty much how I construct all my stories.

Other people may get ideas for characters first. Take Batman: A rich man who lost his parents at a very young age and has a strong sense of justice. We don't really have any conflict yet, but we have a killer character.

So, after we have these initial ideas, we start filling in the holes as writers, right? For me, creating characters that fit into the world/plot, and for many others, creating conflict for the amazing character. I don't think there's a right or a wrong way with plot and characters. Both ways can make great stories. But I think starting with one or the other in mind does create interesting challenges.

I'm currently editing my WIP — the first real editing I've done on a long project. Now I've already redrafted several times to fix the plot issues I had with my first drafts, so I'm now into the developing of the craft, building sentences and paragraphs and chapters in a way that's very close to what I think they'll be in the end.

In the process, because I started with plot, I feel like I'm rediscovering and redefining who my characters are. It's exciting, and also a little scary. I'm learning so much about them that I didn't know in the past. These characters are only just becoming whole in my eyes.

It's a pretty cool experience, actually.

Am I the only one who thinks like this? Do you generally come up with one kind of idea before the other? What challenges do you have with creating plots or creating characters? Let me know in the comments.

Friday, February 7, 2014

I never really had to question this idea before. But it's come to new light for me.

I have been struggling with my current WIP for more than three years now. Three whole years. I could have a published novel by now, if I would have gotten my butt into gear and got things done.

Several things have hindered this.

First, moving. I have moved three times in those three years. And while every move has been good for me and my life in general, it has wreaked havoc on a decent schedule for writing. I'm still working on that.

Second, I'm still working through learning about writing and about myself. I haven't done any editing on a project longer than a 2,000-word short story ever. In my entire life. So, it's a learning process. I have to figure out how to edit, how it works for me. And that's something that can't be taught. It must be discovered.

Third, I've spent more time dreaming about writing and being an author than putting the work into it. I'm not trying to sugar coat it or hide the fact that I've been lazy. I have. I own up to it. And you know what? I'm going to work on that.

I have a new goal for this year.
I'm going to finish my book by the end of May. Like, edited and have it sent off to Beta readers while I work on a query letter. It's going to be hard. And I'm seriously going to have to work at it to make that deadline. Because I'm lazy, I told you. But also because I have a full-time job, and full-time weekends with the boyfriend and the kiddo. So busy. But I came to the conclusion yesterday that I wasn't doing enough to ensure the future I want for myself.

And so I'm going to work harder for that future.

Maybe this is overly honest. And I may or may not be three o'clock in the morning as I write this. (Okay, it is.) But that shouldn't change the truth of the matter, right?

About the author

Brenna Braaten is a writer who aspires to be a full-time author. She is a copy editor and designer at a newspaper in Montana and does a lot of traveling on the weekends. She's quite glad you've stopped by.